How the Healing Through Words Challenge by Rupi Kaur Can Help Reclaim Your Voice

Rupi Kaur Healing Through Words Challenge

Sharri Burggraaf

1/24/20253 min read

person picking white and red book on bookshelf
person picking white and red book on bookshelf

I just found a challenge that I feel I would like to do! I just bought the "Healing Through Words Challenge" a book by Rupi Kaur, New York bestselling author; a collection of guided writing exercises to help readers explore themes of healing, love, trauma, and more.

  • What it is

    A book that includes over 65 writing exercises that encourage readers to be vulnerable and honest with themselves and the page

  • What it's for

    A tool to help readers connect with themselves, create art, and inspire creativity

  • What it covers

    Themes include love, healing, trauma, loss, heartache, family, and celebrating the self

  • What's included

    Each exercise includes guidelines, prompts, timer suggestions, and space to write

  • Who can do it

    Anyone can participate, regardless of writing experience

Some say that writing can be a form of self-care and that words can have the power to heal. Research suggests that the words we choose can activate specific areas of the brain and affect how we experience pain.

I'm not a therapist or an expert, just someone who's been through the trenches and who has found a flicker of light in the darkness.

Discovering the Healing Through Words Challenge
I recently stumbled upon the Healing Through Words Challenge, a platform where survivors like us could express themselves through writing. As someone navigating the intricate webs of recovery, I have been intrigued by the power of words in healing ever since I began the art of journaling and writing prose and poetry. Little did I know that this practice of writing was the way I unlocked my once silenced voice.

Unveiling the Layers of the Past
Journaling has always been my safe haven, but this new challenge is prompting me to think about taking it up a notch. I ordered the book and I am anticipating writing to each prompt, delving deeper into my emotions, and unraveling any memories that are still long buried beneath layers of dissociation. I can imagine finding solace like I have over the years in the blank pages of my journal, pouring out my fears, hopes, and struggles. Writing is like slowly chiseling away the walls that guard our heart. But just like with most books that I buy they have a tendency to end up in a pile or on my many book shelves gathering dust. Anyone want to do the challenge together?

Writing as Empowerment
As survivors of ritual abuse and mind control, our voices have been stifled and our identities fragmented. But through the act of writing, I reclaimed my voice, my emotions, my thoughts, beliefs, challenged the programming and my body; all of which had been purposefully and systematically stripped away from me. Each word penned was a step towards empowerment, a declaration where I refused to be defined by my past traumas. Writing became my sword, cutting through the chains of victimhood to embrace the fact that I survived and connect with my warrior within.

The Transformative Impact of Writing Through Dissociative Writers Workshops
Writing was a game-changer for me! Writing in the Dissociative Writers Workshop over the last few years has brought much healing in community with other survivors sharing our stories. It's not a support group but it is supportive. It's not therapy but it's therapeutic. The understanding that comes with having other people around who "get it" is unlike any space anywhere else. Dissociative Writers has grown over the years from a writing workshop to becoming a nonprofit organization that offers a Draft and Discuss Workshop that showcases 3 writers and offering feedback and the day and evening Writing in Place workshops, special events like a Book Club Healing Workshop, A Healing Music Workshop, to a Littles Creative Playtime. The workshops provide safe space to explore our vulnerabilities, fears, dreams, and hope is a natural by product as we inspire each other on our journeys.

Embracing Vulnerability and Strength
Through the Healing Through Words Challenge, it's possible that you may learn that vulnerability is not a weakness but a profound source of strength. By baring your scars and sharing your story you may be able to transcend your individual struggles. Each word written, each part of your story shared can bring hope to the darkness that is hidden from your conscious mind.

Closing Thoughts
So, survivor friend, if you're hesitant to pick up that pen or open that blank document, I urge you to take that leap of faith. Your voice matters, your story deserves to be heard. The Healing Through Words Challenge may just be the spark that lights your path towards healing and self-discovery. Remember, you are not alone in this journey; together, we can forge a path to resilience and triumph. The Healing Through Words Challenge isn't just about writing; it's about reclaiming our voices, rewriting our narratives, and embracing the full spectrum of our experiences. Join me in this transformative journey of healing through words, one sentence at a time.